Pinless diaper



Jan. i0, 1950 M. RQDGEN ET AL 2,4943@ PINLESS DIPER Filed DSC. 10, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTORS x RODGEN By BEATRICE RODGEN atente Jan. l0,

UNITED STATES PATENT 1 rThis invention relates to new-and useful improvements in pinless diapers, and, more particularly, the aim is to provide a novel 'and valuable such diaper characterized by the inclusion of a single sheet-structure which after being washed and pressed to establishaturn-down collar or -fold at Aone end thereof requires no folds to be made `preparatory to 'putting the diaper on the infant.

Said single-sheet structure, which may be of one or several plies of material, and also with one of such plies of less expanse than a main plyor sheet, is when spread nat somewhat elongate and of an outline suggesting rudimentarily lan hourglass yet with such unusually slight dilferences in width at different places along the length of the diaper as to involve a triing waste of material; otherwise stated, said outline is essentially substantially rectangular.

By the provision of said collar or fold, which may simply be an end subdivision of said singlesheet structure extending all the way across the latter, a special cushioning structure is present all around the waist of the baby while the diaper is being worn. When this fold is opened and when the snaps are adjusted through the appropriate eyelets, the diaper becomes lon-gerto accommodate a larger size baby, i. e. when the child grows'the collar is opened up and adjusted accordingly. Also, a uniquely attractive appearance is given to the diaper while it lis being worn.

A further feature of the invention is the avoidance of tying tapes and the like, but, instead, the inclusion of quick-'releasable fastening means,

such, for instance, as snap fasteners, for fitting the diaper snugly and efficiently yet comfortably to the body of vthe child. One pair of snap fastener post and socket elements may be used at each of two points' oppositel'y located across the width of the diaper and yet each such'pair may be employed to participate in changing the waist size of the diaper incidental to arranging the diaper on the infant. i

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of an elongate strip extending longitudinally in the direction of width of the diaper, near one end thereof, and stitched near the center of its leng-thto near the center of width of the diaper, to leave free both endportions of said strip and so constitute each such portion a manipulable tab; with each of these tabs carrying one element of a pair of saidsnap fasteners, and with the main part ofthe diaper at the last-named end thereof carrying the snapfastener elements complementary to those on said tabs.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent or be pointed out hereinafter.

For further comprehension of the invention, and'of the objects and advantages thereof, reference'will be had'to the 'following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended' claims in which the Various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying `drawings forming ama'- terialpart of this disclosure:

Fig.v l shows a now favored embodiment ofthe new diaper, spread flat, and looking atv the vinside thereof;

Fig. 2 is a'view similar to Fig.`1, but lookinga't the outside of thediaper, with the above-mentioned tabsv allowed to droop away from the' main structure of the diaper.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view, this being va section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is, O Han enlargedscale, a fragmentary ldetail View,` this being a section taken on the line fila vlf-Fig. 2. y

Fig. yis a perspective view,"showing the diaper on the `bodyv of a very young child.

Fig. 6 front elevationally shows the diaper with its portions arranged as in Fig. 5.

Fig.` 7 is a View like'Fig. 6, but looking at the back of the diaper;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective View, indicative vof a stepin the putting on of the diaper.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8i'llustrative `of another such step.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail View, this being a section taken on the line I0;HJ of Fig. 6.

Fig. l1 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but showing another now favored embodiment.

Fig. 'l2 isa View corresponding to Fig. 6, but in regard lto the diaper of Fig. l1.

Preliminar-ily it may be noted that Figs. 4 and 10 are 'drawn 'about to actual scale, for onesize of diaper.

Now referring to the drawings in detail, and rst vto Figs. 1-10,` the new diaper in'clude's `a single-sheet structure l5 incorporating a single blank I6 of suitable textile material, as diaper cloth; which sheet i6, it will be observedfis generally of elongate rectangular shape and yet vhaving an outline rudimentarily suggesting .an hour'- glass as already stated.

The approximate location of the portion vof the diaper to lie at the crotch of the child is indicated by the dot and dash line l1.' With the diaper thus arranged the bottom edge I8 thereof will reach up to about a fold line shown in dot and 3 dash at I9. The already mentioned collar is marked 2i! in Figs. 5-10, and the portion of the sheet I6 to establish such collar, when the diaper is washed and ironed, is designated 2te in Figs. 1 and 2; said portion 22a being the portion of the sheet I above the fold line i9 of Figs. 1 and 2 (note said line I9 as also shown in Figs. 8 and 9) The new diaper may have, and des-irably does have, an extra piece 2l (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) of diaper cloth, for extension Yas a liner over a zone substantially at the central portion of the diaper, for absorption purposes. If desired, although not thus shown, the upper and lower edges `of the liner piece 2l which extend transversely of the sheet i6 may be nished off in any way as by edge stitching or otherwise. As herein illustrated, the liner 2l is floatingly present along its last-named edges; and said liner, along its end edges, is secured to the sheet IS by a line of flat-zig-zag or loop-over edge stitching 22 running all around the perimeter of the sheet i6.

Also, a narrow elongate panel 23, which, too, may be of diaper cloth, is, along its bottom and along both its ends, secured in place on the'main sheet i9, by said stitching 22; this panel being placed at the very bottom of the diaper and extending all the way across the saine, at the inside of the diaper. While said panel could be an end extension of the sheet I6, it is shown as a separate piece, finished oil along its top edge by a doubly-folded edge seam 24 bound down by a line of stitching 25.

The panel 23 not only acts to participate with the collar 26 in providing a soft lcushion around the waist of the infant while the diaper is being worn, in a manner which will become clear in a moment, but is also used for protectively backing the rear basal portions of two snap fastener elements 26. Said elements 2S, as shown perhaps best in Figs. 4 and 10, preferably are snap fastener elements of the post type, so that, as will be understood when Figs. 8-l0 are below in detail described, the posts of said elements will be directed away from the body of the infant; with, at the same time, the basal clenching members applied to the elements 2B to secure them to the diaper protectingly housed behind the panel 23, as will be noted from Figs. 4 and l0, where such a basal clenching member is designated 21.

The strip previously mentioned, for carrying the snap fastener elements complementary to the elements 26, and which strip also may be of ordinary diaper cloth, asmarked 28. The strip 28 may be made of several plies, linished oi all around by a line of stitching 2S similar to the stitching 22. At a point midway along its length the strip 28 is secured by a transverse line of stitching 3d to the midpoint along the width of the diaper near its bottom, this stitching engaging the sheet l5 and the panel 23. The strip 28 is placed at the outside of the diaper, and when stitched-anchored as just described provides two like manipulable tabs 3l. Secured to each of these tabs is one of said complementary snap fastener elements, each of these marked 32. The outline of the strip 28 when spread at over the sheet iii is indicated in dot and dash lines at 28a Ain Fig. 2; the elements 32 being so placed on the tabs 3i that when the strip 28 is thus spread flat the fastener-elements 32 are positionally in mating adjacency to the post-type snap fastener elements 2E.

At each of its opposite ends the subdivision 28a of the sheet i E of Figs. 1 and 2, is provided with a plurality of eyelets or apertures 33. Also, as

here shown, these apertures at each side of the diaper are spaced along a line which is downwardly inclined in a direction inwardly of the diaper. However, these eyelets or apertures may be placed on a horizontal line if so desired. In addition to the apertures 33, there is another aperture 34 at each side of the diaper and belovT the line i9. Preferably, each of these apertures is finished off all around the saine by buttonhole stitching as indicated. More than three of such eyelets or apertures 33 may be present, and also one or more apertures additional to, and spaced from the aperture 34.

Next considering particularly Figs. 5-10, the diaper, after being arranged on the body of the child to have the collar 20 at the babys back, and, with the infants crotch covered by the portion of the diaper paralleling and adjacent to the line I1 of Figs. 1 and 2, the lower portion of the diaper carrying the strip 28 is brought up as indicated in Fig. 8, where, for clarity of explanation, most of the collar 20 is shown as broken away. This Fig. 8 may be taken to represent the portion of the diaper corresponding to the portion thereof seen at the right in Fig. 6. Assume that it is the snap fastener element 32 seen in Fig. 8 which -is decided to be rst attached to the complementary snap fastener element 26 seen in Fig. 8. This attachment is done by iirst placing the adjacent side portion of the upper end of the diaper carrying the aperture 34 (after such portion has been drawn around the adjacent hip of the child so that said portion now lies somewhat over the front of such hip) over the portion of the diaper at the same side thereof which carries the posttype element 26. The adjacent end of the collar 2U being lifted, the post of said element 26 is sent in a direction outward from the infants body through the aperture 34; and then said post is snapped into the complementary socket-type fastener element 32 now carried by the adjacent tab 3| with the socket of said element 32 facing toward the babys body.

Fig. 9, showing the collar 20 partly raised, illustrates the completion of such an operation as just above described, but performed at the side of the diaper seen at the left in Fig. 6.

Should the waist t thus obtained not be that precisely desired, as temporarily in the case of an attack of atulency, or in the case of a more permanent condition resulting from the natural growth and increase in size of the abdominal region of the child, in putting on the diaper the end portion of the diaper which carries the snap fastener elements 26 may be brought up so as to be projected in under the collar 20, and with the tabs 3| laid over the collar, the posts of the elements 26 may be sent through the selected ones of the apertures 33 and then snapped into the elements 32.

Referring to the modication of Figs. 11 and 12, here the parts to which are applied reference numerals with primes added correspond, respectively, to the part in Figs. 1-10 to which are applied reference numerals without primes. The main sheet I6', while diiering somewhat in outline from the sheet i6, is, it will be noted, made in accordance with the rudimentary hour-glass principle hereinabove mentioned. While a liner piece corresponding to the liner piece 2l is not shown, the same may be, and desirably is, included. The diaper here illustrated omits the panel 23, and instead the post-type fastener ele- .ments 26 are secured to the sheet It', but, of

11, that is, the portions of the sheet I6 lying' outwardly of the dot and dash lines 36 of Fig.11. The diaper shown in Figs. 11 and 12 illustrates another feature of the invention, which may be present in any embodiment thereof; to wit, the use ofv a suitable auxiliary plurality of snap fasteners for securing said portions 35 of the lsheet IS to close in comfortably yet snugly the leg openings to be established as at 3l. In the present case, two sets of such auxiliary snap fasteners are illustrated at each side of the diaper; each of these including a post-type snap fastener element 38 and a socket-type complementary fastener element 39. As saidelements are shown in Fig. l1, the postsfthereof are directed away from the observer; while, as Athe diaper is shown arranged in Fig. l2, said posts are directed-toward the observer and hence away from the infants body.

V,As in the case of the diaper of Figs. 1-1i), should the waist fit obtained be not that precisely desired, when the diaper of Figs. l1 and 12 is secured on the body of the child in the manner first described in connection with the-diaper of Figs. 1-10, the parts may be arranged and snap fastenersZSL-SZ. may. be coupled as described in the second preceding paragraph, in putting on the diaper.

While we have illustrated anddescribed the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves tothe precise constructions herein disclosed andv the right is reserved to all changes and modifications com-ing within the scope -of the tinvention as ldened in the appended-claims.

Having thus-described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States- Letters Patent is:

1. A pinless diaper, comprising a sheet element generally of elongate 'rectangular lshape and so adapted to have an upper end subdivision thereof extending all the way across the diaper to be folded down about a rectilinear line to provide a depending collar at the outside of the diaper, a plurality of apertures through the diaper some ofA which apertures are through said collar and someothers of which are through the portion of the diaper to underlie said collar, said apertures of a size to permit passage therethrough of the shank of a post-type snap fastener element of standard size, a pair of oppositely horizontally extended'tabs` secured to the outside of the diaper and near theY bottom thereof, elements of two snap fasteners each of which elements is carried by one of said tabs, and two snap fastener elements each complementary to one of the first-named such elements and carried by the diaper near its bottom at points both spaced outwardly from the longitudinal center line of the diaper.

2. A pinless diaper, comprising a sheet element generally of elongate rectangular shape and so adapted to have an upperv end subdivision thereof extending allthe wayuacross the diaper to be folded down.' about a rectilinear line to provide a vdepending-,collar at vthe outside of the diaper, a plurality of aperturesthrough the diaper some ofl which-apertures yareathrough said collar and some others of whichA are through the portion of the diaper to underlie ysaid collar, said apertures ofa size to permitvpassage therethrough ofthe shank of a post-type snap fastener element of standard/size, a pair `of oppositely horizontally extended tabs securedto the outside Yof the diaper fand near the bottom thereof, elements of two snapffasteners each of which elementsA is Carried'fby Aonefof said tabs, and two snap fastener elements each complementary to'one of the rst-named such velements and carried bythe diaper near its bottom at-points both-spacedoutwardly fromthe'longitudinal center line of the diaper, said diaper having an outline suggesting rudimentarily an hour-glass. y

3. A pinless diaper, comprisinga sheet element generally of elongate rectangular shape and so adapted to have'an upperend subdivision thereof lextending all the way .across the diaper to be folded down about afrectilinear line tofprovide a depending collaratr the outside. of the diaper, a plurality-of aperturesv through'the diaper some ofwhich Aapertures arethrougli said collar and some fothers `of which are rthrough'the portion'of the Adiaper to .underlie :said I collar, said apertures ofl a Vsize .to permitl .passage therethrough 'of the shank of lafpost-'type snap. .fastener element of standard isize, a pairof oppositely'horizontally extendedtabssecuredto the outside of the `diaper. and near. the bottom thereof,`e1e'ments of two snap. fasteners .each of whichr elements is icarriedbyone of "said tabs, and two snap fastener elements each complementary to one ofthe'- rstnamed such'V elementsy and carried by the diaper near its `'bottom 'atA points both spacedoutwardly from the longitudinal center line of the diaper, said diaper having an outline suggesting rudimentar-ily an hour-glass, said tabs being the end portions of an elongate strip which adjacent va midpoint along its length is stitched Jto Vthe diaper.

4. A pinless diaper, comprising a sheet element generallyof elongate rectangularshape and so adapted to have anupper endV vsubdivision thereof extendingallthe-wayv across the diaper to be foldedfdown about a rectilinear line to provide a depending collar at the outside of the diaper, a pluralityof apertures throughthe'd'iaper' some of whichapertures 'are throughsaid collar'and someothers of which are through the portion of the'diaper to underlie said collar, said apertures of a size topermit passage therethroughy ofthe shank of fa post-type snap fastener element of standard size, a pair of oppositely horizontally extended tabs secured to the outsideof the diaper and lnear the bottomthereof, elements of'two snapfasteners each of which elementsV is carried by one ofV said tabs, and two snap 'fastener' elementseach complementary to one of therstnamed such elements and carriedA by the diaper near its bottom at points both spaced outwardly from the longitudinal center 'line of the diaper, said snap fastener elements carried bysaid tabs being socket-type such elements.` 4 f 5. A pinless diaper, comprising a sheet 'element generally` ofy elongate rectangular shape and so adapted to have an upper end subdivision thereof extendingy all the `way across ythe diaper VVtobe folded down-about a'rectilinearline to providea dependingcollarat 'the outside of` the diaper'y'a pluralityrof apertures lthrough the diaper some of `which apertures are1 through said collar and some others of which are through the portion-of the diaper to underlie said collar, said apertures of a size to permit passage therethrough of the` shank of a post-type snap fastener element of standard size, a pair of oppositely horizontally extended tabs secured to the ,outside of the diaper and near the bottom thereof, elements of two snap fasteners each of which elements is carried by one of said tabs, and two snap fastener elements each complementary to one of the firstnamed such elements and carried by thediaper near its bottom at points both spaced outwardly from the longitudinal center line of the diaper, the second-named snap fastener elements being post-type such elements with their posts directed away from the outside of the diaper.

6. A pinless diaper, comprising a sheet element generally of elongate rectangular shape and so adapted to have an upper end subdivision thereof extending all the way across the diaper to be folded down about a rectilinear line to provide a depending collar at the outside of the diaper, a plurality of apertures through the diaper some of which apertures are through said collar and some others of which are through the portion of the diaper to underlie said collar, said aperturesof a size to permit passage therethrough of the shank of a post-type snap fastener element y of standard size, a pair of oppositely horizontally extended tabs secured to the outside of the diaper and near the bottom thereof, elements of .two snap fasteners each of which elements is carried by one of said tabs, and two snap fastener elements each complementary to one of the rstnamed such elements and carried by the diaper near its bottom at points both spaced outwardly from the longitudinal center line of the diaper, the second-named snap fastener elements being post-type such elements with theirV posts directed away from the outside of the diaper, there being a plurality of said apertures through the collar,

7. A pinless diaper, comprising a sheet element generally of elongate rectangular shape and so adapted to have an upper end subdivision thereof extending all the way across the diaper to be folded down about a rectilinear line to provide a depending collar at the outside of the diaper,

a plurality of apertures through the diaper some of which apertures are through said collar and some others of which are through the portion of the diaper to underlie said collar, said apertures of a size to permit passage therethrough of the shank of a post-type snap fastener element of standard size, a pair of oppositely horizontally extended tabs secured to the outside of the diaper and near the bottom thereof, elements of two snap fasteners each of which elements is carried by one of said tabs, and two snap fastener elements each complementary to one of the rstnamed such elements and carried by the diaper near its bottom atpoints both spaced outwardly from the longitudinal center line of the diaper, the second-named snap fastener elements being post-type such elements with their posts directed away from the outside of the diaper, there being a plurality of said apertures through the collar, the last-named apertures being spaced along a line downwardly inclined inwardly of the diaper.

8. A pinless diaper, comprising a sheetelement generally of elongate rectangular shape and so adapted to have an upper end subdivision thereof 8 extending all vthe way across the diaper to be folded down about a rectilinear line to provide a depending collar at the outside of the diaper, a plurality of apertures through the diaper some of which apertures are through said collar and some others of which are through the portion of the diaper to underlie said collar, said apertures of a size to permit passage therethrough of the shank of a post-type snap fastener element of standard size, a, pair of oppositely horizontally extended tabs secured to the outside of the diaper and near the bottom thereof, elements of two snap fasteners each of which elements is carried by one of said tabs, and two snap fastener elements each complementary to one of the rstnamed such elements and carried by the diaper near its bottom at points both spaced outwardly from the longitudinal center line of the diaper, the second-named snap fastener elements being post-type such elements with their posts directed away from the outside of the diaper, there being a plurality of said apertures through the collar, the last-named apertures being spaced along a line substantially parallel with the direction of width of the diaper.

9. A pinless diaper, comprising a sheet element generally of elongate rectangular shape and so adapted to have an upper end subdivision thereof extending all the way across the diaper to be folded down about a rectilinear line to provide a depending collar at the outside of the diaper, a plurality of apertures through the diaper some of which apertures are through said collar and some others of which are through the portion of the diaper to underlie said collar, said apertures of a size to permit passage therethrough of the shank of a post-type snap fastener element of standard size, a pair of oppositely horizontally extended tabs secured to the outside of the diaper and near the bottom thereof, elements of two snap fasteners each of which elements is carried by one of said tabs, and two snap fastener elements each complementary to one of the firstnamed such elements and carried by the diaper near its bottom at points both spaced outwardly from the longitudinal center line of the diaper, the second-named snap fastener elements being post-type such elements with their posts directed away from the outside of the diaper, there being a facing inside the diaper and along its bottom for providing a protective housing for the basal clenching members for the said post-type snap fastener elements.

10. A pinless diaper, comprising a sheet element generally of elongate rectangular shape and so adapted to have an upper end subdivision thereof extending all the way across the diaper to be folded down about a rectilinear line to provide a depending collar at the outside of the diaper, a plurality of apertures through the diaper some of which apertures are through said collar and some others of which are through the portion of the diaper to underlie said collar, said apertures of a size to permit passage therethrough of the shank of a post-type snap fastener element of standard size, a pair of oppositely horizontally extended tabs secured to the outside of the diaper and near the bottom thereof, elements of two snap fasteners each of which elements is carried by one of said tabs, and two snap fastener elements each complementary to one of the firstnamed such elements and carried by the diaper near its bottom at points both spaced outwardly from the longitudinal center line of the diaper, there being auxiliary snap fastener means on the A9 diaper and so arranged thereon that when the mutually complementary elements of said auxil'riary fasteners are coupled the leg openings to be established in the diaper as arranged on the body of an infant are drawn up snugly.

11. A pinless diaper, comprising a sheet element generally of elongate rectangular shape and so adapted to have an upper end subdivision thereof extending all the way across the diaper to be folded down about a rectilinear line to provide a depending collar at the outside of the diaper, a plurality of apertures through the diaper some of which apertures are through said collar and some others of which are through the portion of the diaper to underlie said collar, said apertures of a size to permit passage therethrough of the shank of a post-type snap fastener element of standard size, a pair of oppositely horizontally extended tabs secured to the outside of the dia.- per and near the bottom thereof, elements of two snap fasteners each of which elements is carried inside of the diaper, said liner sheet of less length y than the length of the diaper.

MAX RODGEN. BEATRICE RODGEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,122,417 Fridolph July 5, 1938 2,242,977 Marcos May 20, 1941 20 2,301,277 Hazen Nov. 10, 1942 2,477,914 Webb Aug. 2, 1949 

